Sapp Talks McCoy, Millard & More
March 1st, 2011
In one of the more entertaining interviews Joe’s heard in a while, Bucs icon Warren Sapp checked in with The King David Show on 1010 AM a couple of weeks ago for a long chat with hosts Toby David and former Bucs QB Shaun King.
Sapp shared a funny story about Al Davis’ strong cologne and gave an interesting take on the Packers winning the Super Bowl, among other comments. (Sapp’s of the mind that Byron Leftwich and his slow delivery running the Steelers’ scout team and simulating Aaron Rodgers hurt Pittsburgh’s preparation for the best thrower in the NFL.)
And, of course, Sapp talked about the Bucs.
Toby David: You were a strong advocate for Keith Millard. What can we expect as Bucs fans for him to bring to the table for the Bucs’ defensive line next season?
Warren Sapp: You won’t see it until you see McCoy and Brian Price and those guys actually hit the field. Because Keith is one of three undertackles that ever lived. Me and Johnny Randle being the other two. So if you have somebody to teach them there, it’s got to be someone with some knowledge.
Shaun King: Speaking of Price and McCoy, both of their seasons were cut short from injury, but did you see anything during the season that made you think they can live up to their potential?
Sapp: No. No. (laughs) I mean the kid started playing better toward the end, McCoy did. It’s just repetition of the tedious movements, the simplest movement that make you what you are. And he was getting the get-off, the penetration in the backfield. It’s just a work, a work in progress. My first year, I didn’t know what to do. I really didn’t. And then [Rod] Marinelli came and Tony [Dungy] gave me some direction. They gave me some structure within a system. …And then I’d make it up as I went.
So I gave [McCoy] the madman that helped me make it up at 34 years old, and got me 10 sacks and the No. 3 defense, and that was Keith Millard in Oakland. And that’s the only thing I can do for McCoy.
Because I’ve talked to him on the phone and we’ve shared little moments, and he’s like “Man, I got to do this and I got to get that.’ And I’m like, ‘It ain’t that easy.’ You know what I’m sayin’. And I don’t have the time to put in. The next best thing I could give him is my old coach, and he’s got him now. So it should be fun.
Joe’s fired up to see what Millard can do with Price, McCoy, Roy Miller and Frank Okam. If Millard can get these young guys to all make significant strides, then the Bucs’ defense might be good enough to get them to the playoffs even if they can’t improve at defensive end.
March 1st, 2011 at 10:10 am
If Millard gets a real defensive end, it will make his job a lot easier. Nothing against Leftwich, but how do you “prepare” for Aaron Rogers ? When he gets hot, it is near impossible to stop him. QB’s like him, Manning, and Brady are sometimes best all out blitzed, because given time, they will beat you.
March 1st, 2011 at 10:36 am
dont forget al woods, i mean, with 18 schedule season, roster will be biggier and that kid played preety well
March 1st, 2011 at 11:15 am
Like Joe, I’m really excited to see what Keith Millard can do with our young guys ! I’m happy with the the talent at DT. And still believe our young DE’s have room to improve also. It typically takes a couple years to bloom as a DE. Still have hope for Magee, Crowder, Bennett, and even Moore. But still need that Pass rush DE, with the fast five steps to the QB. We should be fighting in the playoffs this year. Need all these young guys to get some playoff experience. That will keep them all motivated to improve
March 1st, 2011 at 11:59 am
Capt. Troll killer Tim
I agree about Magee, Crowder, and Bennett all showing promise, but not Moore. I have not seen anything fronm him.
Unfortunately for all of them I think a DE in free agency and 2 in the draft might mean only 1, maybe 2, of the bunch stick around.
Personally, I think Bennett and Magee should but I think it might be Bennett and Crowder. I think Moore is definately the odd man out.
Of course, I am predicting 3 new DEs via draft and FA. I could only be 2
March 1st, 2011 at 12:06 pm
It won’t be Crowder. He has a 7.5 sacks in the last two years as a backup. He’s a Free Agent and someone will pay him…
I never understood why K Moore was handed the job over Crowder.
March 1st, 2011 at 12:33 pm
“did you see anything during the season that made you think they (McCoy, Price) can live up to their potential?
Sapp: No. No.”
Enough said. That is all I have been saying since last year’s draft. The media and the sheep tried, desperately, to act like McCoy was being productive when he was getting killed by O-Linemen. It made me sick, be a fan but be honest.
Is it over for McCoy or Price? No. But last year was a debacle for McCoy, hoestly, Frank Okam and Bennett and others were young players who were effective. McCoy was not. Sapp agrees. Sapp got a new D Coordinator in his second year, wouldn’t it be nice if McCoy got the same?
March 1st, 2011 at 2:34 pm
@Thomas
Freeman was the “face of the franchise” and didnt do a whole lot his rookie year. Should we have given up on him? Now look at him, hes one of the best young QBs in the league. Give McCoy a freaking chance. Sapp did about what McCoy did his rookie year, so hes right on pace.
March 1st, 2011 at 3:38 pm
You know, on Defensive End, the Panthers Charles Johnson is a RFA this year. We have plenty to offer. He’s 24 and had 11.5 sacks last year alone.
Those hoping to get one in Free Agency are otherwise out of luck. The only other one is Mathias Kiwanuka from the Giants. He’s 27 and has only one year with more than 4 sacks…2008.
Most of the other DL FAs are DTs.
March 1st, 2011 at 3:49 pm
Thomas, read the entire quote. Also, if you hear it live it even sounds different than the way you are trying to mislead. Sapp goes on to say he was playing better near the end of the year, and Sapp admits that he did not do that well his rookie year either. Right when I read this article I figured you would be taking Sapp out of context. MOST DTS STRUGGLE AS ROOKIES, really, how many times must this be pointed out to you? We did not draft Suh, he was not available to Tampa Bay, get over it or find a new team.
March 1st, 2011 at 4:01 pm
@Thomas 2.2
A) 16 Games | 8 Starts | 0 Assists | 3.0 Sacks | 1 Interception
B) 13 Games | 13 Starts | 6 Assists | 3.0 Sacks | 2 Fumbles
Take a good look at those stats. A did start 5 fewer times, but he also played in 3 more games. He also had zero assists. Each of his sacks was seperated by 2 games between them, and after his 8th week, he had ZERO Sacks. He got a turnover once.
B had more starts under his belt in his first year. He went his first 8 games with no sacks, then had 1 sack, and followed the next game with 2 sacks. He had 6 assists and got 2 turnovers.
Those are pretty similiar stats. A was Sapp, B was McCoy.
I am in no way saying McCoy is better than Sapp. Sapp was a beast and McCoy has a long way to go to touch his coat tails…BUT, McCoy had the better rookie year.
Sapp is not agreeing, the No, no, if you had heard the interview, was more of an expression…like “no,no, it’s too early to tell” was more like what he was meaning.
Price was included in that question as well. Besides, McCoy had a great rookie year. He was shifted along the line to get experience at different positions, and then they settled him into his key location. The shifting along the line was to help him become familiar with how the opposing Offensive Linemen reacte from play to play.
This helped him immensely. And the proof is in the pudding…he started getting sacks.
Raheem Morris new exactly what he was doing the entire season. He was not preparing McCoy individual games only, he was also preparing him for a successful career at DT.
March 1st, 2011 at 4:32 pm
Well said Pete.
March 1st, 2011 at 4:59 pm
pete, those are excelent points and it’s info that logical bucs fans know and understand, unfortunately they are directed at somebody who doesnt fit that description.
March 1st, 2011 at 5:13 pm
THOMAS
taking things out of context to support his absurd claims…
March 1st, 2011 at 5:14 pm
Pete Dutcher
excellent points and stats.
I do disagree with the way Raheem moved him around though. He was drafted to be the under tackle. In my opinion, they should keep him there and let him be great at one thing first instead of spreading him thin.
March 1st, 2011 at 5:41 pm
My mother used to tell me No, No…followed by…you little bastard!
March 1st, 2011 at 5:51 pm
Way to take Sapp’s comment completely out of context Thomas.
March 1st, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Only a true sheep would say that mccoy had a good rookie year. Mccoy was the third overall pick. I believe that sapp fell to 12. I dont recall sam wyche annointing sapp anything or dungy for that matter until sapp proved his worth.
I have heard this nonsense before about mccoy improving late in the year. What was his stat line against the falcons/ second game, week 13, his last full game?
Zeros across the board.
March 1st, 2011 at 8:31 pm
How many times are you going to bring up that Falcons game Thomas? Seriously, get some new material. I’m sorry if McCoy stole your woman, but you have got to let that go. Did you watch the Atlanta game, or were you too busy on the chat boards of JBF spitting your hatred at him. He was very disruptive. It is people like you that gives merit to Raheem’s slogan, “Stats are for losers”. Everyone knows that stats don’t tell the whole story of a players value to a team, in particular a DT. And you are also taking what the organization said about McCoy way out of context (imagine that). They didn’t say he was going to come in and be the face of the franchise his rookie year. They said he would eventually be the leader of the defense, the same way Freeman is for the offense. Was Freeman the leader in his rookie year? Give the man an opportunity to learn how to play at the NFL level. And yes, his rookie year was not great, nor was it horrible. It was about what I expected, and probably what most people expected (at least those who are babbling idiots like yourself).
March 1st, 2011 at 8:31 pm
should be “those who are NOT babbling idiots like yourself”
March 1st, 2011 at 11:11 pm
It’s really funny to me. Everyone here leaps to the defense of our young DTs, pointing out(correctly) that OT takes DTs two or three years to master their posistion.
Yet the same guys leap on the DEs, who also take 2-3 years. Last year was Kyle Moore’s rookie year. Really, same for Crowder – he had limited time as a miscast 3-4 end in Denver. It was Crowders first year getting playing time also. And Magee( who looked very good) also was getting his first real time as a 4-3 end. I expect all of them to be much better, and our new coaches will also have a great impact.
Again, still need a DE with the “fast five” steps. A guy that will just torment a QB. But we’ll get him this draft. We have some other guys that I think will be improved. That’s the joy of good YOUNG guys- they get better. Sometimes ALOT better!
March 2nd, 2011 at 12:22 am
@Capt Tim
I agree about the DEs. I still think we only get 2 this offseason. I think with Crowder, Bennett, and Magee (who impressed me a lot too) we should be fine at LE. Crowder is a dependable, but not flashy guy who is decent. Magee is a huge DE at almost 300lbs but is quick and got 3 sacks in a handful of playing mins. Still not sure about Bennett tho. Physically hes great, but he just cant seem to put it all together. What we need is a RE to rush the passer. If anyone remembers, when McCoy and Miller started to play well, we pressured the QB ok. We harassed Troy Smith, and did an ok job at getting to Flacco and Ryan. Not saying were good enough, but there is some talent there and I think the new coaches might be able to get it out of the guys. Throw in a good rookie and a FA and I think it’ll be good enough.
March 2nd, 2011 at 9:59 am
we need beasts at the backer position fierce hitters with wheels….and a simeon rice at de.
March 2nd, 2011 at 10:29 am
Capt Tim…I agree 100%